Teat cup liner



W. A. SCOTT TEAT CUP LINER Nov. 24, 1936.

Filed April 24, 1935 /A/l/f 4/ 701? f2/ffii 5640# Patented Nov. 24, 1936TEAT CUP LINER.`

VWalter A. Scott, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., assigner to The De LavalSeparator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New JerseyApplication April 24, 1935, Serial No. 17,891 c claims. (o1. 31-84) MyVinvention is an improvement Vupon that class of flexible teat cup linerswherein the liner is of cylindrical shape and is expanded near its upperend by the insertion of a rigid metal ring Y of a diameter substantiallygreater than the normal diameter of the liner. In this construction theupper extremity of the expanded part of the liner extends radiallyinward,`its inner margin aligning, or nearly aligning, with the innerwall .D of the unexpanded part of the liner and forming a mouth-pieceadapted to embrace and engage the teat when the teat cup is appliedthereto.

The described liner isr eicient in actual use,

but it is open to certain objections which it is the object of thepresent invention to remove. One

objection is that the insertion of the ring requires the use of aspecial expanding tool, of which examples are disclosed in the LeitchPatent No. 1,363,522, December 8, 1920, and the Sny- M der Patent No.1,408,039, February 28, 1922;

*o When the user is required to remove and replace the ring, he Vinds itdiicult to do so without the aid of a special tool, which must befurnished to the user with a set of teat cups.

Another objection to this type of liner is that the rubber is stretchedto such an extent that it loses its elasticity in a comparatively shorttime, which necessitates cutting on the defective end and shortening thelength of the liner, or replacing it with a new liner.

" In my improved liner the above objections are removed. The mouth-piececan be readily inserted without the aid of a special tool and no part ofit becomes excessively stretched in use, thereby prolonging the life ofthe liner. Thus the user is saved trouble and expense.

In the drawing: n

Fig. 1 is a Vertical section through the upper part of the liner. Fig. 2is a cross section through the internal removable and replaceablemouth-piece. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of one preferredcomplete teat cup assemblage.

The liner a has its upper end moulded to the shape that it is desired tohave `when the liner is assembled in the teat cup. This upper end b iscircumferentially enlarged, its free extremity extending radially inwardfor a limited distance suflicient to form an internal groove for thereception of the mouth-piece.

This mouth-piece has a body c of rubber and of smaller, or not greater,diameter than the internal diameter of the unexpanded body of the liner.It is reinforced, preferably nearer to its 55 outer margin than to itscentral orifice, by a rigid is of disc shape with a central openingpreferably l core d, preferably of pressed steel. The part of themouth-piece adjacent the central opening is therefore iiexible andengages the teat just as,V

in the old type of liner described, the teat is engaged by the upperextremity of the liner, or, as in another known construction, by aspecial mouth-piece which is applied to liner and shell alter these twoparts are assembled.

This special mouth-piece c is readily removable and replaceable. If itshould wear out bei ore the liner, it may be replaced by a newmouthpiece without replacing the liner.

One of different ways of assembling the com plete teat cup is shown inFig. 3. The upper end of the rigid metal shell e is expanded and holdsWithin it the expanded upper end of the liner. The lower end of theshell is provided with a contracted neck f. The lower end of the lineris bent around the neck f. A ring gis threaded on the shell e above theshoulder formed by the neck f. Depending from ring g is a ring h, thelower inwardly extending end z' of which embraces a nozzle lc, whoseupper end, together with the lower end of the liner, is confined`between the part i and the neck f. The described teat cup assemblage isshown in the Hapgood Patent 1,959,581, May 22, 1934. Other means forsecuring the liner in the teat cup shell may be adopted.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A liexible and elastic teat cup liner comprising a main body havingan expanded upper end and a removable and replaceable internalmouth-piece within the expanded upper end of the liner, said mouth-piececomprising a disc of llexible and elastic material having a centralorice the internal diameter of which is less than that of the edge ofthe overlying upper end of the liner and at most no greater than theinternal diameter of the main body of the liner.

' 2. A ilexible and elastic teat cup liner compris- Ving a main bodyhaving an expanded upper end and a removable and replaceable mouth-piececonfined within the expanded upper end of the liner, said mouth-piececomprising a disc-shaped body of iiexible and elastic material having a3. A fiexible and elastic teat cup liner com-` prising a main bodyhaving an expanded upper end and a removable and replaceable mouthpiececonfined within the expanded upper end of the liner, said mouth-piececomprising a discshaped body of flexible and elastic material having acentral orifice adapted to embrace and engage the teat and a reinforcingcircular core of comparatively rigid material embedded in the body andspaced from the central orice a sufcient .distance to maintainunimpaired the flexible and elastic character of the part of themouth-piece that engages the teat.

4. A flexible and elastic teat cup liner comprising a main cylindricalbody and an expanded upper end which is moulded tol permanently retainits shape, and a removable and replaceable mouth-piece having a body ofilexible and elastic material and confined within the expanded upper endof the liner.

5. A exible and elastic teat cup liner comprising a main cylindricalbody and an expanded upper end which is moulded to permanently retainits shape, and a removable and replaceable tic material and which isprovided With a centrai teat-embracing orilice Whose internal diameteris at most not greater than that of the liner body, and a reinforcingcircular core of comparatively rigid material embedded in themouth-piece body and positioned nearer to its periphery than to itscentral orice.

WALTER A. SCOTT.

